Gardner-Webb names alum McCray football coach

Boiling Springs, NC (Sports Network) - Carroll McCray has made his way back to
Gardner-Webb University.

The Big South Conference program announced Monday that the 1983 graduate has
been hired as head football coach.

McCray, who had a 5-6 record last year in his only season as the head coach at
Division II North Greenville University, replaces Ron Dickerson Jr., who
stepped down earlier this month following two seasons and a 7-15 record.

McCray was the head coach at Austin Peay from 2003-06, compiling an 11-33. He
also was associate head coach of Mercer's fledging program in 2011 and was an
assistant coach at Furman, Mississippi State, Samford, South Carolina and
Appalachian State.

He is the first alumnus to serve as the Runnin' Bulldogs' head coach since
Woody Fish did so from 1984-1996.

"Our focus with this search was to quickly identify and target an experienced
coach who has an understanding of this university and its football program,"
Gardner-Webb athletic director Chuck Burch said. "We have found that coach in
Carroll McCray. He is a man of impeccable character and a person we
are confident is an outstanding fit here at Gardner-Webb."

A native of Monroe, N.C., McCray was a three-year letter-winner on the
offensive line at Gardner-Webb under coach Tom Moore in the early 1980s. As a
senior in 1982, McCray and the Runnin' Bulldogs finished with a 7-3 record to
tie the program record to that point for senior college wins and posted the
team's first winning mark since 1977.